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Hundreds march to protest sex assaults in Christie Pits area

It echoed through the crisp, Friday night air: Hey, hey, ho, ho the violence has got to go.

Residents in the area of Christie Pits park marched for a second time in as many months against the string of sexual assaults that have brought a culture of fear to the downtown neighbourhood.

Trinity-Spadina MP Olivia Chow led a march through the Christie Pits area Friday night with approximately 300 residents speaking out against the rash of sexual assaults that have occurred in the area in the last few months. (ANDREW LIVINGSTONE / TORONTO STAR)

Three assaults over the Thanksgiving weekend sparked the second rally.

And a number of residents criticized police for not being more transparent about what has occurred and what they are doing to catch whoever is assaulting women.

“Not explaining it creates a culture of fear,” said 26-year-old Emma Wawrykow. “We have a right to know what’s going on.

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“Knowledge is power so if we know more we’ll be able to protect ourselves better.”

Police have stepped up patrols in the area since the assaults began this summer.

Ashling Ligate just moved to the area from Kitchener-Waterloo. The 23-year-old who just quit her job at a sexual assault clinic to move to Toronto said police need to organize a public meeting to talk to residents about what’s been happening.

“They need to ask us what we want,” she said. “They should hold a panel and explain to us what they are doing.”

About 300 women and men, old and young alike, marched through the neighbourhood streets with a number of prominent figures, chanting slogans, carrying signs and sending the message that assaults like the 13 that have occurred in the area will not be tolerated.

Trinity-Spadina MP Olivia Chow and city councillor Mike Layton were on hand, leading chants on a megaphone and putting up posters in support of the White Ribbon campaign to stop violence against women.

“This isn’t indicative of the neighbourhood,” Layton said of the sexual assaults, adding residents’ voices are strong against the violence. “Women are saying ‘no you can’t take this safety from us.’”

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